The Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service (TTMS) officially declares the start of the 2026 wet season, today 5^th May 2026.

The official start of the wet(rainy) season is marked by measurable rainfall (≥ 0.1 mm) attributed to a Tropical Wave or the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) which are primary drivers of rainfall for Trinidad and Tobago. Rainfall today has been associated with the first Tropical wave of the season which the TTMS has been monitoring since it moved off the west coast of Africa on the 30^th April 2026. This wave, classed as a weak Tropical Wave produced minimal but measurable rainfall across some parts of the country, including at Piarco where we measured 2.1mm and 2.5mm at Charlotteville.

May is a transition month and rainfall episodes will likely be interspersed with dry spells and Saharan dust events, the latter of which is currently creating a relatively dry environment behind the wave axis. Over the next couple of days there will be relatively dry conditions and a moderate Saharan dust concentration. The TTMS rainfall outlook through May, June and July is for near-normal rainfall for Trinidad and below-normal for Tobago.

The upcoming Hurricane Season (June–November) is expected to be influenced by the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), which may reach moderate-to-strong intensity by the season's peak. Historically, a well-developed El Niño suppresses Atlantic hurricane activity. Comprehensive details regarding the hurricane forecast for our area of interest (6N–15N, 20W–60W) will be presented at the National Climate Outlook Forum (NCOF) on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, and published subsequently at metoffice.gov.tt.

The TTMS reminds citizens that even in a below-average hurricane season, a single direct hit can cause severe damage, making the season feel active to those impacted. The TTMS continues to monitor weather conditions within our area of responsibility and will advise the public in a timely manner about potential weather-related hazards. The public, relevant agencies and ministries are advised to adopt measures to mitigate the potential impacts of the Wet and Hurricane seasons. Stay informed via daily forecasts (6 a.m., 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.), monthly outlooks, our website (metoffice.gov.tt), social media and the TT Met app. Stay alert, prepare and be safe.